A whirlwind trip to jail in Boulder

Details of first hearing for Karr expected today

Charlie Brennan And Fernando Quintero, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 25, 2006 at midnight

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John Mark Karr, the man suspected of killing JonBenet Ramsey nearly a decade ago, spent his first night in Boulder County Jail after arriving at Jefferson County Airport late Thursday afternoon.

The speed with which he was brought to Colorado from a Los Angeles jail, where he was held since Sunday following his arrest in Thailand on Aug. 16, indicates to some that Boulder District Attorney Mary Lacy has a strong case.

"It leads me to believe that (Lacy) has more (evidence) than anyone knows about," said Bill Wise, the former No. 2 prosecutor in Boulder during the first several years of the Ramsey case.

Once Karr waived extradition in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Boulder had 10 full days before they would have been obligated to pick him up. The deadline for his first appearance in court, 24 hours after arriving in Boulder, and filing of charges, 72 hours after that, wouldn't have kicked in if Karr had remained in Los Angeles.

"If the case were still early in the investigative stage, why wouldn't you wait until the last possible moment and use that time to investigate the case, then bring him in?" Wise asked.

But not everyone sees the timing of Karr's transfer to Colorado in that legal light.

Jamie Harmon, Karr's attorney, said she isn't sure her 41-year-old client will be charged with the murder of the 6-year-old on Christmas night 1996.

"I'm not doing any interpreting. I worked in the District Attorney's Office (in Santa Clara County, Calif.) for 14 years, and I know a lot of things go on behind the scene," she said. "I have no idea what they're thinking, or what their ideas are, or what they're planning."

Questions about Karr's involvement in the case have arisen since he told reporters after his arrest in Thailand last week how he was with JonBenet at the time of her death, but that it was an accident.

Prosecutors have refused to detail any evidence they might have, but in a court filing this week said investigators didn't learn of Karr's name until Aug. 11, five days before his arrest in Thailand.

They said he was arrested, in part, because they feared he might be tipped off and vanish.

Chief District Judge Roxanne Bailin is expected to issue an order this morning detailing when Karr will have his initial hearing to be advised of the charges he faces, said Colorado Judicial Branch spokeswoman Karen Salaz.

However, Harmon said she was told by Boulder law enforcement officials that Karr's first hearing will be at the beginning of next week.Karr is being held for investigation of first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree felony murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping and sexual assault on a child in one of the most notorious crimes in state history.

Karr's first few hours in Boulder were expected to include fingerprinting, booking, a mug shot, mental and physical evaluations, changing into a red jumpsuit and being assigned to a cell.

Karr will eat by himself, in his cell or in a separate day room, for at least the first couple of days, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said.

That's standard procedure for anyone put in a segregated cell, such as Karr was, because of the nature of the charges against him.

Karr will have access to television and newspapers, but will only grant interviews on his terms, or more likely, on his attorneys' terms.He is expected to meet with someone from the Boulder Public Defender's Office today.

Karr's three-hour airplane flight from Los Angeles was tracked by news organizations around the world, some of which were caught off guard by a last-minute change in where the plane would land.

A flight plan had been filed indicating the plane would arrive at the airport in Boulder, and sheriff's officials had a heavy presence there. But the actual landing occurred miles away on a tarmac in Broomfield, where six off-duty Jefferson County Sheriff's Office SWAT members were standing by.

With four helicopters hovering overhead, the state-owned white Beech King Air turboprop carrying Karr descended from gray skies before smoothly touching down at the airport in Broomfield at 4:56 p.m.

He emerged from the plane 10 minutes later and was escorted by two men to a nearby unmarked black SUV. He was then driven to the Boulder County Jail.

Karr was attired much as he was for his 15-hour flight Sunday from Thailand: in dark slacks, a short- sleeved, red dress shirt and a tie.

But unlike the trip from Southeast Asia, where he was not handcuffed and enjoyed business-class treatment, he traveled in handcuffs and leg shackles.

What's next?

No more champagne, no more impromptu press conferences surrounded by dozens of jostling cameras, no more blurted confessions. That's the expected regimen for John Mark Karr, 41, now that he is in the Boulder County Jail facing possible charges in connection with the death of JonBenet Ramsey. Here's what's next for the first and only suspect ever arrested in connection with the child beauty queen's death.

• ADVISEMENT

Colorado Judicial Branch spokeswoman Karen Salaz said late Thursday that Chief District Judge Roxanne Bailin will issue an order this morning giving the time of Karr's first hearing. It must take place within 24 hours of his in-custody arrival in Boulder, though his lawyer said the hearing may not take place until next week.

At that advisement, Karr will be told he is being held for investigation of five felony counts, including murder after deliberation and felony murder, and that he is to be held without bail.

A date and time will be set for his next hearing, for the filing of charges. Typically, that would come within the next 48 to 72 hours. Weekends are not counted against that clock, meaning the next hearing should be no later than Wednesday.

• FILING OF CHARGES

At Karr's second hearing, charges may be filed against him, or the prosecution can ask for a delay. That delay could be granted with the agreement of both parties, should a judge be persuaded a delay is appropriate.

• IF CHARGES ARE FILED

The law calls for Karr's preliminary hearing to take place in Boulder County Court within 30 days from the time charges are filed. However, the defense can waive that 30-day deadline, if Karr chooses.

• FOLLOWING THE PRELIMINARY HEARING

If a judge is persuaded by evidence presented at Karr's preliminary hearing that there is probable cause that he committed the crimes he is charged with, the case would be bound over to the district court level.

At that point, a trial date must be set for no more than six months away. A defendant can waive a "speedy trial," if he wishes.

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